After getting the information I needed from Onodera-san,I immediately go in second floor towards the storage room to meet someone.
Of course,it was not Hiten-san,who stayed here earlier since she was already in the canteen.I have been searching for another person.I couldn't find her anywhere in the low ground so this is the only place left.
Upon entering,just like I expected,she was here.She noticed my presence and greet me
"Oh,isn't Hashimoto-kun.Why did you need from a maiden like me?."
"I just want to talk something about the case,
Yahiro-san."
That's right.Yahiro-san is the one I been looking for.Right now,she was sitting in the chair that probably used by Hiten earlier.And she is reading again a novel.
"What are you reading right now,Yahiro-san?."
"Ah.It was again a Agatha Christie work titled 'Five Little Pigs',a part of Hercule Poirot series."
"I see."
I remember when she compared the both of us with that name and with another name.
What is it again?.Has.Hastings isn't?.
Yeah,that's right.So if that's the case then maybe this Hercule Poirot is the detective of the book she is reading.
"How about you,Hashimoto-kun?.Did you already finished reading your novel?."
"Ah yes.I just finished earlier.Oh,then if that's the case then I can already lend it to you."
I remember that I made I promise to her earlier in the morning that I will lend that 'Strangulation Romanticist' after finishing it.
"Thank you very much.But in exchange,I also want you to read a Christie book.Just consider it as a give and take situation."
"Ho.I see.Then I think you already recommend me something the other day.What are those again?."
I think she already recommend me two books but I can't remember the title anymore.
"'And Then There Were None' and 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd'.Which one do you like?."
"Maybe I will go to the latter."
"Fufu.'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd' huh.The former book is the best selling book by Agatha Christie with a total of one hundred million copies.Did you know that,
Hashimoto-kun?."
"No.I didn't know that."
So it's safe say that this 'And Then They Were None' is her best book.That was really a mindblowing numbers.
"However,the book you chose was regarded by many as one of the best plot twist ending in crime novels.I'm sure you will like that book."
The way how she decribed the novel is very persuasive.Somehow,I excited to read the book already.
"All that aside,I will bring the book tomorrow.
But for now,let's go back to your business."
"Before that,let me asked you something personal."
"Hmmm?."
I'm glad how she put aside the matter about mystery novels and immediately bring up the reason why I came here.But I want to do a little experiment first.What I'm going to say and do is something out of my character.It may surprised Yahiro-san.But I have to do it since it was also essential in the case.
"Well,would allow yourself to fall in love with someone,Yahiro-san?."
She opened her eyes a little bit wide.Then she giggled.
"Fufu.Fufufuf.Fufufufu.That was not a question I'm expecting to hear from you,
Hashimoto-kun."
Just like I expected,she was a little bit surpised.After that,she answers.
"Each person can fall in love to someone.
Opposite sex or same sex.Even they are disabled or not."
That was actually a good answer.Although I have a bad feeling with "same sex part".
Anyways,I continue
"Did you perhaps someone you like?."
That was a little bit tricky question.Not unless she was homosexual or there's still someone other outside this school then there is only one possible answer with that.
"Rather than 'someone you like',it's more like I have someone here in this school who I admire."
Ho.That was again a really good answer.
Okay,let's push it furthermore."
"And who might be that someone?."
She didn't answer immediately.She looked first at me,wearing her sadistic face.Then she spoke up.
"Before answering that,how about you?.Would you allow yourself to fall in love someone?."
Instead of answering my question,she asked back the same question I asked earlier to me.Honestly,this was the moment I want to happen in this conversation.Since we came to this,I will took this opportunity to strike.
"Yes,well it depends.At first,I'm not really interested with that kind of thing but after some time,I realized that having a romance life in highschool may not a bad thing."
I remember the time when I rejected Chinatsu-san's confession.Most people will think that was the end for her.But actually not.
I kinda also remember a romantic comedy manga series where the protagonist really hate one of the heroines there.But it turns out she was the one he married at the end.
Romantic comedy stories is just like detective-fiction stories.Sometime the one we least like or the one we hated the most are usually the one we ended up.Just like the least suspect in a murder turned out to be the culprit in the end.
"Well since it was an all-girls school,it was inevitable to like someone among us,right?."
"Yeah.Actually,there is already someone here who I want to be my girlfriend if I choose to have a romance highschool life."
"Fufu.I wonder who is that."
"Do you want to know?."
"Curiosity of a human is really an interesting thing,isn't?."
So that means she wants to know?.If that's the case then let's do something weird.
I go towards her place.Yahiro-san doesn't really react weird with that until I close my face to hers.Right now,our faces is very close.She opened her eyes a little bit wide.Her sadistic smile suddenly disappeared.That
was a normal reaction,since what I'm doing right now is not normal.
Then I gently put my right hand to her hair from her side.Then I gently put some of it to the back of her ears.Then I slowly touch her left cheek.It was very soft.
Her eyes are just looking at me straight and surprised.As if she couldn't comprehend what is happening.Then after that,she asked my called my name,stuttering.
"Hashi..moto-kun?."
"Remember when I said that I'm not the type of guy who loves breast and ass?."
"Yes."
"And did you remember where I exactly basing the charm of girl?."
"Ah!."
She reacted in a way that looks like she realized something.I'm sure she remember that.
After that,I distanced my face to her.I already convey to her my answer so I don't need to stay in that position anymore.
"So the one that you are talking about is me afterall?."
"You're right.Since I'm basing on one's face,I will definetely choose you if I want."
Yahiro-san may be have a small body propotion compared to Onodera-san or Hosokawa-san but if will just talk about one's face then she definitely the most prettiest among the girls.
I totally confirmed it after looking at her face in a close distance.Well I already know that she really cute and beautiful but when I got a closer look,it was another level of elegance.
"Fufu.Should I take that as I compliment?."
"Yes.I compliment and a fact."
Since I already achieve what I want then let's go back to the real business.I looked at her.It seems like she already recover with that embarassing moment.
"Well for the reason why I came here.I only want to asked you one question about the case."
"Oh,I see.I thought that session will last for a little bit longer."
Session?.So she want more of it?.
Unfortunately,I can't do that anymore.That was only once in a life time situation.
"I'm sorry,Yahiro-san.But I'm not a romantic comedy protagonist."
"Romantic comedy.Fufu.Well anyways,go ahead and asked me now."
I answered her with a joke but I don't know if she got it or not.Anyways,let's proceed.
"Well it's about when you go inside here after you offer you chair to Reina-san."
"Hmmm.Is there something wrong about lending her my chair?."
"No,no.That's not what I mean.I talking about when you stayed here alongside with Hiten-san.The two of you didn't talk that much right?."
"Yes.Again,I just asked her why she here,in the storage rom.She just said she doesn't want anyone to bother her in studuying.Then she also asked why I go here inside and I just said I want to finished my novel I'm reading."
"After that,you didn't talk to each other until the earthquake happens right?."
"Yes."
"Then about that the same time,did you notice something weird around Hiten-san?."
"What did you mean by weird?."
It seem like she didn't understand what I'm trying to ask.Okay,let's make it more specific
"For example,like standing up from her chair and resting her eyes from reading,well something like that."
"Hmmm."
She tried to remember something that time.
After some time,she spoke up.
"I haven't saw something weird or like that from her.She just reading her book for the whole time just like me."
"Are you sure about that?."
"Yes.No doubt."
"I see.Thank you very much for answering."
"Is that all?."
"Yes.You can go back now on what you're reading."
"Fufu.I hope you finally find out who is the culprit,Hashimoto-kun."
"What will you do if you are the one I ended choosing as a culprit?."
"Fufufu.You know to yourself that's impossible."
"You're right."
After all of this interview,my opinion about Yahiro-san hasn't changed.That she was the least one I suspected.
Anyways,I tried to asked her something completely different.
"By the way,did you want to read some romantic comedy light novel series?.I can lend you some of my collections if you want."
"Hmmm."
She didn't answer immediately and instead,
she just think for some time.After that,she spoke up.
"No.I think I will refrain from love comedy novels.You see,I only love reading murders but not romantic comedy life of a protaganist.
What's more,I have to finished first this Hercule Poirot series."
"So you will try some after finishing that?."
"It depends.Maybe if I ended up liking the novel that you will lend me then maybe I will try your love comedy recommendations."
Hmmm,that's weird.So if you ended liking 'Strangulation Romanticist' of Nisio Isin,you will try to read some romantic comedy series.
Well anyways,speaking of that novel,I forgot it to bring it with me.
"Ah about my novel.I will give it to you after this case solve.Is that fine?."
"That's alright for me."
"I see.Then if excuse myself."
I go towards the door and when I'm about to open it,my mouth suddenly spoke up.
"Ah,Yahiro-san.This will be the final question,I promise.About that 'person you admire',who is it?."
Yahiro-san,who go back on reading her book turned her eyes to me and gave me a sadistic smile.
"You already know that person,Hashimoto-
kun.Afterall,that person is my neighbor from my seat who always talk to me about detective fiction novels."
"I see.Then take your time on reading,
Yahiro-san."
After that convesation,I finally left the classroom.What happen to us in this storage room is something we should keep in secret to others.I'm kinda afraid that those things might spread out to others but since it's Yahiro-san,I'm sure she will never tell that to others.She will just keep it,and cherished it to herself.
I go down from the second floor to visit one more classmate.She will be the last before I present to everyone the solution for this murder case.